 |
|
| |
|
Motherwell 3, Celtic 2
Match date : Sunday, November 28 1999 Competition : Premier League Attendance : 12,775
Motherwell Team:
Woods, Doesburg, Kemble, Teale, McMillan, Twaddle (Nevin), Brannan, Valakari, Townsley (Nicholas), Goodman, McCulloch (Davies).Motherwell scorers: Brannan (9), Townsley (44), Goodman (49).
SUPER WELL SEE OFF CELTS AGAIN
Motherwell 3 Celtic 2ANOTHER TERRIFIC DISPLAY By Motherwell saw them record their second successive win over the Parkhead club and carried the Fir Park side to within a point of third place. On a cold, wet and windswept evening it was Motherwell who adapted better and deservedly ran out winners in a thriller of a match.
The game began in a heavy downpour with visions of a possible postponement as with the Hearts game in September. Within the first minute Doesburg tried to set Goodman clear but the ball was caught in the wind and drifted to Gould. Celtic tried to break but a good tackle by Brannan stopped McNamara on the wing. Motherwell returned forward, Doesburg took a throw to Townsley, and as he was tackled by Tebily the ball broke for Doesburg to fire in a cross which found Twaddle on the edge of the box. However, as he struggled to control the ball in the fierce wind McNamara got in a vital tackle for a throw. Stubbs was then forced to concede a corner as Goodman attempted to turn in the box. Brannan crossed in but Stubbs again beat Goodman to the ball and Celtic burst forward. Berkovic ran forward and supplied Viduka, but Teale was alert and managed to guide the ball to Woods ahead of the Australian. In a game littered with foreign talent Motherwell's Surnamese maestro Kemble returned Gould's kick-out in the direction of Goodman but despite being fouled by Riseth play was waved on. Brannan's poor pass to Twaddle gave Celtic a chance to break with Moravcic sending Mahe down the wing but a lack of control gave possession back to Motherwell. Valakari and Brannan then got in a mix-up which gave McNamara the opportunity to supply Viduka but the off-side flag was up instantly. Brannan then tired to redeem by giving Twaddle the chance to make the bye-line though it was the slippery surface which carried the ball just too far. There was controversy soon after when McNamara's poor pass back caught out Stubbs allowing Goodman a clear run in. However, Stubbs brought the Motherwell striker down just outside the box and was lucky to only receive a yellow card. Ged Brannan, who hadn't scored all season, stepped up to curl a beautiful low shot round the wall and into the back of the net to give Motherwell the lead. From the kick-off Riseth was short with a pass-back but it struck Goodman and just ran out of play. Tebily then gave the ball away in his own half and Valakari sent Goodman scurrying off down the wing, Stubbs cutting in to give away a throw in the nick of time. Viduka and Berkovic then worked space to give McNamara time to cross, but a poor effort allowed Twaddle a clearance. It fell to Petrov 30 yards out and although his effort was blocked by Kemble, Mjalby saw his shot deflected over. McNamara swung in the corner which Woods did well to tip over, and from the second corner after Berkovic had spent some time settling the ball, McMillan cleared to McNamara who shot tamely wide. Although Celtic were retaining possession well early on they were creating little, with Motherwell's tenacity winning most balls. Berkovic did find a gap to give Viduka a run into the box and although Brannan won the ball back a slip gave Viduka another chance but he shot behind. Don Goodman was unlucky to see a Valakari pass caught in the wind as he was clear on goals, the ball falling just behind him. Twaddle's run up the wing saw him pass in for Goodman, and in turn he supplied McCulloch but the move broke down as he slipped on the surface. A terrific move by the home side on 19 minutes almost brought the second. McMillan on the wing played inside for Brannan who picked out Valakari on the edge of the box. Nicking a pass inside to McCulloch, he brilliantly chipped a ball into Townsley on the angle but his first-time shot was blocked by Gould. The ball broke for Townsley but he was unable to control the ball and Mjalby knocked out for a corner which was cleared. Stevie Woods was slack with a clearance which gave Celtic a throw some 35 yards from the Motherwell goal. Although Viduka and Berkovic worked space Brannan was able to kick partially clear to McNamara. He slotted wide to Petrov, and his cross was met by the Berkovic who looked offside as he rose to head towards goal. Woods should have held the ball but it bounced off his arms and crept over the line. Motherwell refused to be down-hearted by this and immediately went on the attack. Kevin Twaddle sent in a vicious low cross which Stubbs missed completley though it also caught McCulloch out and the ball was cleared by Mahe. The Fir Park side returned on the attack and Brannan's cross in was met by Stubbs who somehow found Gould with a back header which looped just beyond McCulloch. Twice in the space of a few seconds Sean Teale made excellent challenges on Viduka to win the ball, and on both occasions Viduka hit the ground rather spectacularly. Soon after Petrov wasted a great opportunity to put the visitors ahead. Running on to Berkovic's defence-splitting pass he was one-on-one with Woods but chose to wait for his right foot and Woods made a good block, though it was touch and go as to whether Petrov had strayed off-side. However, Viduka, latching on to a McNamara throw, beat Kemble and raced into the area. Teale, in hot pursuit, slid in and caught the striker just inside the box. It was a penalty though Viduka's theatrics must have helped remove any doubt from Referee McCluskey's mind, as he was hardly in a position to see clearly. Viduka's scored, though Woods perhaps could have done better. Motherwell instantly went on the attack, Stubbs and McCulloch tangled in the box, with the Celtic defender appearing to catch the Motherwell striker in the face. Celtic attacked, Moravcic fired in a shot from 30 yards, but it troubled no-one on it's way over. Viduka almost got clear but Kemble was there to deny him, Woods completing the clearance. Valakari was the caught in possession giving Berkivic the chance to cross, the ball was cleared only partially and Berkovic helped It on for Riseth, but despite being clear he scuffed his shot giving Doesburg the chance to complete the clearance. Play swept to the other end where Gould's attempted clearance struck Tebily and ran on just ahead of Goodman to Mahe who was able to boot downfield. McCulloch sent Twaddle racing down the wing and his dangerous cross was headed across his own goal by Stubbs just beyond McCulloch where Tebily managed to hook it over the crossbar to keep the pressure on Celtic. Twaddle's corner was headed out by Stubbs under severe pressure to McMillan but his poor cross was cleared. McCulloch did well to win the ball in midfield and he found Doesburg via Valakari. A pass towards the box for McCulloch saw the striker only denied by a fine challenge from Stubbs, the ball rolling through to Gould. Motherwell were enjoying possession just now, and came close in 36 minutes to the equaliser. McMillan passed to Twaddle on the wing and he skinned McNamara with ease before delivering a superb cross which Stubbs, fortunately for the Celtic defender, managed to miss completely in front of goals. The ball bounced on towards McCulloch but he was denied by a fine tackle from Tebily at the expense of a corner. The wind was causing problems and it took some time before Twaddle was able to control the ball. As the ball was swung in McCulloch landed awkwardly when challenged by McNamara, but he recovered after treatment. Riseth and Mjalby made errors which gave Townsley the chance to cross first time but the low ball was met by Riseth who just made it beyond Goodman. Celtic broke forward, Berkovic picked out Moravcic on the wing with a good pass and as he turned to cross he was brought down by Kemble. A foul certainly, though Moravcic's screams hardly seemed necessary. Moravcic made an amazing recovery to curl a shot in but it went wide of the far post. Again Celtic attacked but good defending by Motherwell gave them few opportunities, though Petrov's cross was well met by Kemble who headed down for Teale to complete the clearance for a corner. Moravcic's inswinger was punched clear by Woods to Valakari, but he was hacked down by Tebily and the pressure was off. From the free-kick Teale played the ball forward to Goodman. He turned Tebily to set Townsley clear on the right. Cutting inside Stubbs the winger slotted a fine shot with his left foot behind Gould to draw Motherwell level. Townsley then sent Doesburg wide and his low cross skipped along the six-yard box requiring only the finest of touches, but Goodman was just out of reach and the ball ran out of play.
Half-time Motherwell 2 Celtic 2Celtic pushed forward from the kick-off and Berkovic found Mahe at the edge of the box. The Frenchman sent a dipping half-volley wide with Wood covering. Twaddle and Valakari then exchanged passed to give the tall winger the chance to cut inside. His cross to the back post was hooked behind by Mahe with McCulloch in close attendance, though the ball could just have easily landed in the net. Twaddle's corner was met by Kemble, and the header fell for Townsley but 5 yards out he failed to connect properly and the ball went wide. However, from Gould's kick-out Mjalby's error gave Brannan the chance to slot through for Goodman in space on the edge of the box. He needed no second invitation to shoot beyond Gould and give Motherwell the lead once again. A rare mistake by Kemble allowed Moravcic to chip into Viduka in the clear. However, his attempted lob over Woods was easily saved. Good work by Valakari gave him an opportunity to shoot from some 25 yards and the low shot troubled Gould who was glad to clutch the ball at the second attempt. Goodman was dis-possessed by Riseth and that gave Celtic the chance to break. Berkovic ran forward and passed to Viduka, and he in turn slotted inside to Moravcic. Clear on goals, some 6 yards out, he somehow managed to knock the ball over the bar. Moravcic tried to redeem himself and sent a good ball down the wing to give McNamara the chance to cross, but it was great back-tracking by Twaddle and a corner was the result. Motherwell broke forward, a good exchange of passes between Doesburg and Goodman gave the former the chance to send a brilliant ball through to Goodman who was clear on Gould, but the Keeper collected just ahead of Goodman as the ball carried on the slippery surface. A run by Moravcic was checked by Teale on the edge of the box, the ball spun forward and a delay by Kemble allowed Viduka the chance to nip in on the edge of the six-yard box. With the angle tight he turned and slotted across for Mahe. Delaying he took two touches and that gave Doesburg the chance to recover. With Celtic screaming for a penalty Mahe fell dramatically as Doesburg slid in, though there was minimal if any contact and Teale completed the clearance. Motherwell then worked a clever move with McCulloch, Townsley and Goodman all involved, though Goodman's final ball to Townsley was just too strong with Gould reluctant to come for the ballmuch to Stubbs fury. Tebily then was slack with a pass to Berkovic allowing Brannan to nip in. Showing a deft touch he beat Tebily but Riseth was able to block Goodman's run. Woods then made a long clearance which Stubbs failed to cut out and the ball ran on to McCulloch who was clear on the edge of the 18-yard-box. Taking one touch to the side around Gould, as he attempted to chip the ball appeared be caught slightly by the conditions forcing the striker wide. McCulloch, still in space, carried the ball into the box and with Goodman and Twaddle marked he went for the low shot which struck the outside of the post. Celtic then screamed penalty a third time when Berkovic's pass inside to Viduka saw the Aussie go down like the proverbial sack of potatoes when he turned Teale. A decision that could have gone either way, this time in favour of Motherwell. As play raged on Townsley was adjudged to have fouled Mahe on the left and Celtic got the free-kick. Swung in by Moravcic, the ball bounced awkwardly right in front of Woods who gathered at the second attempt. With 26 minutes to go Celtic brought on Wright for Moravcic. Valakari's deflected pass back almost fell to Wright on the edge of the box but teale was there to clear up. Motherwell then pushed Celtic back somewhat, though the visitors were able to break. Viduka's pass to Berkovic was cut out well by Kemble or a chance was on. Viduka went for goals soon after but a 20-yard shot was well wide. A couple of minutes later Motherwell sent on Pat Nevin in place of the tiring Twaddle. A hand-ball against Berkovic on the half-way line gave Motherwell a free-kick, and quick thinking by Brannan sent Goodman clear into the box. A first-time shot might have paid dividends, but Goodman's eventual shot was well blocked by Gould with Riseth fortunate to knock the ball off Nevin and out of play. A dangerous cross by McNamara was then cut out by Doesburg with an attempted overhead kick by Mjalby caught by Woods. The flurry of subs continued when Mjalby made way for Wieghorst. An error by Stubbs gave Motherwell a corner with 20 minutes left. Nevin's cross was met by Teale though McNamara managed to knock it over Townsely and out for another corner. Cletic broke forward but Viduka's poor pass to Wright was cut out by Teale. As the ball was played forward Stubbs was lucky not to be sent off for a late challenge on McCulloch. Motherwell then had a terrific opportunity to settle the game when Riseth failed to control Stubbs pass, Nevin ran into the box and curled a delightfully shot beyond Gould, but also inches past the far post. Goodman and Nevin then combined but Tebily blocked for a corner. It was more clever play from Nevin which sent McMillan into the box but the ball gathered pace on the wet surface and ran out. Celtic burst forward with Viduka, he supplied Berkovic and in turn the Israeli picked out Mahe on the left wing. Cutting inside Mahe curled a shot in which drifted just past the far post. With ten minutes left Motherwell hero Townsley made way for Steven Nicholas. Celtic won a corner when McMillan deflected McNamara's cross behind. Berkovic played wide to Mahe who touched the ball to Viduka, but his 16-yard shot was easily saved by Woods. Motherwell were determined not to be defensive, and Nicholas fired in a cross which Goodman headed wide. There was a moment of nastiness with 7 minutes left when Wieghorst was very late on McCulloch. The Motherwell striker was able to avoid the tackle but Wieghorst was also able to avoid a card despite his angry reaction as he got to his feet. Four minutes later John Davies made his Motherwell debut replacing Lee McCulloch as Motherwell went to five across the middle. Although Celtic were keeping possession they were creating little, although Wieghorst failed to connect on the edge of the box and as the ball fell to Wright his shot was blocked by Viduka, with Wright swinging wildly at Nevin and the pressure was relieved. Celtic were given a free-kick when Kemble caught Viduka wide on the left some 12 yards out. The visitors then were given an injury-time corner when Riseth's cross was deflected behind by Nicholas with Riseth just out of reach. Brannan headed out and as the ball broke Wright fired well over form 18 yards. Celtic continued to attack and Viduka sent in a dangerous cross which Kemble did brilliantly to hook clear. Stubbs returned to Riseth who slotted for Viduka, but he was well offside and the chance was saved by Woods in any case. However, time ran out and Motherwell deservedly ran out winners.
Full-Time Motherwell 3 Celtic 2